Karen Knapp Haskew, 60

Karen Knapp Haskew, the best example of a Christian Woman died July 16, 2012, at Hospice House of North Idaho. She was born Feb. 23, 1952, in Charleston, W.Va., to Arnold and Mary Elisabeth (Dorsey) Knapp.

Karen graduated from George Washington High School in Charleston in 1970 and then from West Virginia University in 1974, where she was an honorary member of Xi Sigma Phi in the forestry school 1973 and 1974 and was named the Most Outstanding Senior there. While in school, she became interested in Double Bladed Axe Throwing and won many championships there after.

After college, she worked at Holly River State Park in Hacker Valley, W.Va., as a naturalist. She then worked for Westvaco in Appomattox, Va., before moving to Idaho in 1982.

On July 6, 2012, Doug Eastwood (Karen’s boss) and the residents of Coeur d’Alene recognized Karen as one of the shining stars in Coeur d’Alene, being employed at the Parks Department here for the last 25 years bringing an incredible amount of improvements to our community. Doug also said Karen’s resume would include: Landscape of Excellence Award, Historic, Unusual and Big Tree Book and Tour, Safe Zones Program, Community Canopy and Newsletter, Fall Workshops and Volunteers in Pruning, The Bloom Report, Web Page information and updates, Tree City of USA, Arbor Day, Street Replacement Program and on and on. That day, they dedicated a Katsura Tree and plaque in her honor.

Karen is survived by her husband, John Michael Haskew of Hayden; stepsons, Greg Haskew of Post Falls and Patrick Haskew of Lewiston; stepdaughters, Stacy Haskew of Spokane, Kellie Bronnell of Ponderay and Brigette Newby of Rathdrum; 13 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; brother Andrew Knapp of Brookeville, Md.; sister Kathryn Brown of Scott Depot, W.Va.; one niece and nephew. She was preceded in death by her parents and one granddaughter.

We would especially like to thank all the doctors, nurses and volunteers at Kootenai Cancer Center and Hospice of North Idaho.

Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 28, 2012, at the River of Life Friends Church, 12th and Cecil, in Post Falls.

Karen’s family suggests memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, 920 N. Washington, Suite 200, Spokane, WA 99201.

Please sign Karen’s guest registry and view her online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.